Improvement in folding arm-chairs



W. A. WEBB.

FOLDING ARM-CHAIR.

No. 191,015, Patented May 22,1877.

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UNITED STATES PATENT" WILLIAM A. WEBB, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK.

IMPROVEMENT IN FOLDING ABM-CHAIRS.

Specification formingpart of Letters Patent No. 191,015, dated May 22, 1877; application filed- September 29, 1 76.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM-A. WEBB, of the city of Brooklyn, county of Kings, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Folding Arm Chairs, of which the following is a specification:

The object of this invention is to provide an arm-chair for the use of tourists, travelers, and others, which, when not in use, may be folded up into extremelycompact shape for carriage or storage, as may be required; and to this end the invention consists in a novel combination of pivoted crossed legs, hinged back bars, leg-brace, back-brace, seat-brace, flexible fabric for seat and back, and front cross-bar and spring-arms, the several parts being so constructed and arranged that they may be separated and turned into such relation with each other as to lie closely together, and brought into a small bundle for transportation or storage, and on occasion be expanded and arranged to form a strong and easy arm-chair.

Figure 1 is a side view of a chair, made according to my invention, as expanded and arranged for use. Fig. 2 is a front view of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of the principal portions of said chair when folded into a compact bundle for storage or transportation. Fig. 4 is a like view of an opposite side thereof. Fig. 5 is an end view of the chair as folded for storage or transportation, complete; and Fig. 6 is a side view of the same.

At each side of the chair is a pair of crossed legs, A B, pivoted together by pivots a. To the upper end of each of the legs B is pivoted bars 0, which constitute the side bars of the back of the chair. Attached to the lower end of one of the legs B is an oblique bar, D, notched, as shown at b in Fig. 2, and fitting into the intersecting angle between the legs A B at the opposite sides of the chair, there being notches a b formed in said legs A B at their angle of intersection, so that the end of the bar D is interlocked with the said legs A -B at said side of the chair in such manner that the bar D forms an oblique brace, connecting the two pairs of crossed legs A B at opposite sides of the chair. E is a back-brace, constituted by a bar, the opposite ends of which are pivoted to the lower extremities of the side bar Got the back of the chair. In the top of each of saidbars O is formed-a deep notch, e. F is a cross-bar, the ends of which are notched in such manner as to he fitted into the notches e of the bars 0 of the hinged back of the chair. In the upper ends of the legs A are formed notches f, into which are fitted the ends of a cross-bar, G. A fabric, H, of any suitable kind, is attached at one end to the cross-bar F, and at the other to the cross-bar G.

When the chair is extended and arranged for use this fabric H is passed behind and below the back-brace E, and is strained more or less tight by the fitting of the cross-bar F into the notches e in the top of the bars 0 of the back, and into the top of the legs A, the webbing thus constituting the back and seat of the chair.

I are the arms of the chair, made of springsteel or other elastic material, attached at their lower ends 9 to the cross-bar G, and with their upper or rearmost ends fitting into sockets h in the hinged bars 0 of the back, these arms I being of such length that, when their rearmost ends are sprung into the socket H, the requisite bowed form will be given to said spring to form the arms of the chair, said arms also serving as springs to bring the parts taut and firm.

When desired, the lower ends of each pair of legs A B may be connected by a straining chain or cord, m, as represented in Fig. 1, the object of which is to prevent too severe a strain being brought upon the brace E at the point where it intersects with the legs A B at one side of the chair, and also to prevent undue strain upon the parts in other respects.

The parts being arranged as just hereinbefore set forth, the chair is in position and condition for use.

When it is desired to fold the chair, the upper or rearmost ends of the spring-arms I are sprung out of the sockets H, and the crossbars G and F are detached from the legs A,

and the hinged bars 0, respectively, the arms, the cross-bars G F, and the fabric H being detached or taken away from the other parts of the chair. This done, the hinged bars 0 are turned upon their hinges M, by which they are attached to the upper ends of the legs B,

until said bars are brought substantially parallel with and against the legs B. The legs B and A are then turned upon the pivot a until they are brought parallel with each oth er. The two pair of legs, with the bar 0 hinged" thereto, and folded in position, as just described, are then-brought close together, with the oblique brace D and the back-brace E also turned into the position parallel therewith, as represented in Fig. 4.' This done, the springarms I are turned into a position parallel with the cross-bar G, and laid upon the folded parts, comprising the legs A B and bars "0,

&c., and the fabric H is wound around the whole until it encircles and incloses the same, said fabric, for convenience, being furnished at suitable points with buckles a and tongues b, by which it can be tightly drawn around and buckled fast upon the inclosed folded crossed legs A B, the hinged back-bars O, the

oblique leg-brace D, the cross-bar or top brace F, the brace E, the flexible fabric H, and front cross-bar G, and spring-arms I, ar-

ranged to spring into the socket H in the hinged side bar 0 of the back, the whole constructed and combined for use and operation substantially as and for the purpose herein, set forth.

WILLIAM A. WEBB. Witnesses:

H. WELLS, Jr.,

EDWARD HOLLY. 

